Underframe and draft-arm connection



G. N. GOODIN.

. UNDERFRAME AND DRAFT ARM CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT 14, 192l- 2 SHEEIS-SHEET I.

- Patented July 11, 1922.

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UNDERFRAME AND D a APPLICATION. Fl 1,422,562.

GOODIN.

RAFT ARM CONNECTION.

LED OCT-14,1921- 2 SHE stares rarest GEORGE N. GOODIN, 0F MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO HAR GRIMSHAW, 0F PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

J-VY BI UNDERFRAIEE AND DRAFT-ARIVI CONNECTION.

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residing at Macon, county of Bibb, andState of Georgia, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Underframe and Draft-Arm Connections, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in underframe and draft arm connection.

In wooden freight cars as at present constructed, the wooden draft timbers or arms extend directly underneath the center sills, and it is customary to secure these parts together by means of the vertical bolts. On account of the alternate impact and pulling blows, these bolts work loose, forming oblong holes in the center sills, with the result that the drafttimbers or arms become loose and eventually pullout, causing derailments and making it necessary to delay traffic, not to speak of the attendant expense due to repairs incident thereto and damage claims resulting therefrom.

The object of my present invention is to eliminate the draft-bolts altogether, and thus obviate these objections, and in their stead to substitute an effective means of fastening the parts rigidly together, so that it is impossible for the draft timbers or arms or any other parts to work loose or be pulled out of place.

To this end, my invention consists in drafttimbers or arms, center sills resting thereon, keys for preventing end-wise movement of draft-arms or sills with respect to each other, a filler-block extending from sill to sill. and holding their upper edges apart, a block inserted between the draft-arms or timbers to completely fill the space between the draftgear and the body bolster in order to transfer as much of the bufling shock as possible directly to the car underframe, and means encircling these parts for rigidly clamping them together from the outside, thereby maintaining the full strength of the sills and timbers which hitherto was greatly weakened by reason of the bolt-holes and their enlargement, due to wear and consequent play.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14,1921.

Patented July 11, 1922.

Serial No.507,707.

Figs. 8 and 4 are cross-sections on the lines 33 and 2- 1 respectively of Fig. 2, lookng in the direction of the arrows.

A,1.epr'esents the draft-arms or timbers. of which there are two at each end of the car, standing vertically and running parallel with each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and l, and extending from the body bolster 2, which may be made of wood or metal, a typical form of I-beam bolster being shown in Fig. 2. Resting immediately (above the draftarms A are the center sills 3 extending parallel with each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and at; and these are held apart by a fillerblock 1, which is placed between the upper halves of the center sills, in order to hold them at the proper distance apart; and between the rear ends of the draft-arms or timbers a solid block 5, preferably of wood, is held, completely filling the space between the draft-gear and the body bolster, thereby transferring as much of the bufling shock as possible directly to the car under frame. This block 5 is held in place by bolts 6.

At the outer end, the usual end sill 7 extends transversely, it being dropped into a notch 8 formed in the outer ends of the draft-arms or bumpers, and the outer ends of the center sills abut against this end sill. The usual dead-block or bumper 9 extends across the outer end, where it is held by a bolt 10. i

As a means for preventing endwise play of the draft-arms and center sills, a key 11 having dowels 12 is seated in recesses 13 formed transversely therefor, the dowelpins 12 holding the key in place.

The entire assembly of parts of the draft rigging herein described is held rigidly together by inverted U-shaped supporters 14, preferably of strap metal. These supporters 14 extend entirely around the draft-arms or timbers, sills and filler-blocks immediately below the surface of the floor 15 of the car and their lower ends are provided with screw-threads 16 to receive the metal straps 17 and the nuts 18, by which the parts are held rigidly together as if made in one single piece of material.

Already by actual test, it has been found that this improvement has effected a large saving of expense incident to the use of the time-honored draft-bolts, as the present invention obviates all the diiiiculties incident thereto, decreasing the cost of upkeep of car repair in the neighborhood of 90% as to the draft-timbers, center sill, end sills and draftbolts, not to speak of its absolutely preventing the draft-armsfrom pulling out and causing derailments, with the attendant de-' lay of traliic on that account. The expense of applying this improvement is small, and

time 1s saved 1n applying it, as the whole equipment can be applied in about half the therebetween for preventing endwise movement of said parts with respect to each other, a filler interposed between the upper halves of the center sills, a body bolster, a

I, block between the rear ends of the draftarms or timbers and extending to the body bolster, and holding the arms spaced apart, and a supporter extending around said parts.

3. An underframe includingdraft-arms or timbers, center sills, independent blocks interposed between the draft-arms or timbers and between the sills with an intermediate space therebetween, supporters extending around said parts and holding them rigidly together, straps connecting the free ends of said supporter, and means for holding said straps thereon, and the various part held rigidly in place.

a. An underframe including draft-arms or timbers, end sill, a dead-block or bumper extending transversely thereof, and dropped into a notch in the outer ends of said draftarms or timbers, center sills, a transverse body bolster, blocks placed between the upper edges of the center sills, and between the draft-arms or timbers, the former extending to the end sill, and the latter to the bolster, and supporters and straps surrounding said draft-arms, center sills and blocks, and means for holding the parts therebetween rigidly in place.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

H enoner N. GOODIN. 7 

